Explosive cartridge for exterminating animals



(No Model.)

G. F. SHARP & T. J. VANCE. BXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE FOR EXTERMINATING ANIMALS.

Patented Nov. 5,1895.

llmrn TATES ArnNr i rriorj.

GEORGE F. SHARP AND THEODORE JAMES VANCE, OF ROSEBUD,

MONTANA.

EXPLOSIVE CARTRIDGE FOR EXTERMINATING ANIMALS.

SPECIFIG ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,297, dated November 5, 1895.

Application filed March 20, 1895. Serial No. 542,528. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE F. SHARP and THEODORE JAMES VANCE, citizens of the United States, residing at Rosebud, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Cartridge, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in cartridges designed especially for exterminating wolves, coyotes, and other wild animals.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive form and construction of explosive cartridge which may be inserted into and hidden within a piece of meat or other bait, and be adapted to be fired or exploded by the. animal in the attempt to consume or remove said bait.

A further object of the invention is to construct the cartridge in such manner that it may be safely carried from place to place and loaded or unloaded without danger.

To this end the invention consists in the combination, with a hollow shell of any preferred form or construction provided with a small aperature in one end and containing a charge of powder or other explosive, of a movable piece of wire, cord, or tape carrying a 1 JllSSlOll-PGllGl] located within said shell and adapted to be moved into contact with a roughened surface for igniting the explosive by means connected therewith upon the exterior of the shell; in the particular manner of supporting the several parts located Within the shell for rendering the device as a whole safe to be carried about from place to place or to be loaded or unloaded; also in certain features and details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and

* pointed out in the claims.

the elastic support carrying the percussion- Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a hollow shell, which may be of any preferred form or construction. The shell 1 ispreferably cast and in such process is formed with several barbs 2, projecting laterally from the body of the shell and inclining rearwardly from the advance end thereof, said end being pointed, as indicated at 3, to facilitate its insertion into the bait. At the opposite or rear end said shell is internally screw-threaded at 4, adapting it to receive an exteriorlythreaded breech-block 5, having a small central aperture 6, the purpose of which will appear.

A pair of spring jaws or arms 7 are located within the shell 1 and are provided at their rear ends with a connecting-bar 8, which is secured to the inner face of the breech-block 5 for supporting said spring-jaws. The bar 8 is provided with a small aperture 9, coincident with the aperture in the breech-block, and the opposite or forward ends of the spring-jaws 7 are given an outward flare or divergence, as shown at 10.

11 indicates a piece of spring metal, which at its rear end 12 is adapted to bear against the inner face of the breech-block 5, and at its opposite or forward end is given a semicircular turn or curve 13, bringing the same approximately to the central plane of the shell '1, and from this point a piece of tape, cord, or wire 14 extends rearwardly through the aperture 9 in the bar 8, and also through the aperture 6 in the breech-block, to the exterior of the shell. The tape 14: may be of any desired length, and it is by means of this tape that the cartridge is anchored to any convenient fixed support. A pellet 15 of fulminate or percussion powder is arranged upon the spring-support 11, just in advance of the flarring ends 10 of the spring-jaws '7, in such manner that said pellet is adapted to be drawn between said spring-jaws, which are roughened or serrated on their inner adjacent faces, adapting them to explode the pellet 15 and ignite the powder or other explosive 16 with which the shell is charged, in a manner that will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device will be apparent.

By means of-the spring-support 11 the percussion pellet. 15 will be held normally suspended in the powder in the shell 1, entirely clear of the spring-jaws 7, thereby rendering the cartridge perfectly safe in handling or loading and unloading. In setting the device the cartridge is inserted into a piece of bait, the barbs 2 serving to prevent the withdrawal thereof, and the tape, cord, or wire 14 is then made fast to a tree, stake, or other convenient fixed support. The animal, in the act of consuming or removing the bait, causes the percussion-pellet, by reason of its anchoringtape 14, to enter between the serrated springjaws 7, thereby exploding the cartridge and I killing the animal.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any advantages of this invention. 4

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A cartridge shell comprising a hollow body adapted to receive a charge of explosive powder, and formed with a pointed end terminating in oppositely disposed integral barbs, in combination witha perforated and removable breech plug, a serratedor roughened spring arm attached to said plug and breech block, and a spring support located within said body, and adapted to receive and direct a pellet of fulminate or percussion powder between a pair of spring jaws, substantially as described.

3. A device for exterminating wild animals, consisting of a hollow shell adapted to receive a charge of explosive powder, and a removable breech block, in combination with an interiorly arranged spring support adapted to receive and direct a pellet of fulminate or percussion powder, a pair of friction jaws for firing said pellet, and means communicating with the exterior of the shell for moving said pellet between the friction jaws, substantially as described.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

GEO. F. SHARP. THEODORE JAMES VANCE.

Witnesses:

C. F. ROTHWELL, J. H. HUSSEY. 

